President Barrack Obama has finally paid tribute to King of Pop Michael Jackson more than a week after his death.

Obama was expected to issue a statement following Jackson's sudden death last week, but he instead chose to send the superstar's family a private letter of condolence.

A week after, Obama acknowledged the magnitude of the loss to the generation that grew up as followers of the icon, Contactmusic reports.

He paid tribute saying: "He will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers".

Obama also revealed that he grew up listening to Jackson.

He added: "I grew up on his music. I still have all his stuff on my iPod."

The pop legend died of a suspected cardiac arrest at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles on June 25, 2009.